“Some things just didn’t work out,” Coco Gauff breaks her silence on splitting with coach Pere Riba just before the WTA Finals 2023

Coco Gauff gives an insight into her parting ways with coach Pere Riba despite achieving a lot of success in the last few months together. 

“Some things just didn’t work out,” Coco Gauff breaks her silence on splitting with coach Pere Riba just before the WTA Finals 2023

Coco Gauff and Pere Riba during a match. (credits: Tennis.com)

World No. 3 Coco Gauff, who has been enjoying great success after having acquired the services of new coach Pere Riba, has left the world shocked and stranded ahead of her first group stage match at the WTA Finals. 

She has now parted ways with her coach and opened up about it after her match against Ons Jabeur on Monday. At the post-match conference, Coco Gauff declared how much of a helping hand Riba had been for her in the last few months, and if it were up to her, she would have wanted him to stay. 

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However, she also talked about some differences happening between her and Riba. As per the US Open champion herself, Pera has done a lot for her when it comes to her tennis journey, and sometimes things just don’t work out as planned. She said: 

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Unfortunately it wasn’t my decision, but we had to end the partnership. I had a great time with him & I wish him the best in this next chapter.

Continuing further, she added: 

If it was up to me, I would’ve loved to have him here. But things happen, life happens. No bad terms on our end. Sometimes people think it’s bigger than what it is. Some things just didn’t work out. That’s all. I still think he’s a great guy. He did some amazing things for me personally & also for my game. I’m sure he’s gonna be successful in his next step.

Coco Gauff’s success with Pere Riba

For context, just ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, Coco Gauff decided to join forces with Pere Riba, which started their hunt for glory. Gauff couldn’t attain the success she would have desired in their first tournament, which was the Wimbledon Championships, getting knocked out of the tournament right in the very first round. 

Pere Riba and Coco Gauff during a practice session. (credits: EL PAIS English)

However, after that, it was a dream run for both of them, as they went on to win the Citi Open, the Cincinnati Masters, and the all-important US Open. She shocked the entire world with her impeccable performances in the last three months. With that being said, there is no denying that Riba was pivotal in turning the fortunes in favor of Gauff, who picked up from the worst phase of her career to now be the World No. 3. 

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